The Elder Sons of George III: Kings, Princes, and a Grand Old Duke

I'm thrilled to announce that The Elder Sons of George III: Kings, Princes, and a Grand Old Duke, is out now. If you'd like to learn more about the six daughters of the Windsor nunnery, follow the link below to read my guest post at the Pen & Sword blog.

The Elder Sons of George III: Kings, Princes, and a Grand Old Duke

For nearly 60 years, King George III reigned over a tumultuous kingdom. His health and realm were in turmoil, whilst family life held challenges of its own. From the corpulent Prinny and the Grand Old Duke of York, to a king who battled the Lords and the disciplinarian Duke of Kent, this is the story of the elder sons of George III.

Born over the course of half a decade of upheaval, George, Frederick, William, and Edward defined an era. Their scandals intrigued the nation and their efforts to build lives away from the shadow of their impossibly pious parents led them down diverse paths. Whether devoting their lives to the military or to pleasure, every moment was captured in the full glare of the spotlight.

The sons of George III were prepared from infancy to take their place on the world’s stage, but as the king’s health failed and the country lurched from one drama to the next, they found that duty was easier said than done. With scandalous romances, illegal marriages, rumours of corruption and even the odd kidnapping plot, their lives were as breathless as they were dramatic. In The Elder Sons of George III: Kings, Princes, and a Grand Old Duke, travel from Great Britain to America and on to Hanover in the company of princes who were sometimes scandalous, sometimes sensational, but never, ever dull.

The Daughters of George III

I'm thrilled to announce that The Daughters of George III: Sisters and Princesses is out now. If you'd like to learn more about the six daughters of the Windsor nunnery, follow the link below to read my guest post at the Pen & Sword blog.

The Six Daughters of George III

In the dying years of the 18th century, the corridors of Windsor echoed to the footsteps of six princesses. They were Charlotte, Augusta, Elizabeth, Mary, Sophia, and Amelia, the daughters of King George III and Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Though more than fifteen years divided the births of the eldest sister from the youngest, these princesses all shared a longing for escape. Faced with their father’s illness and their mother’s dominance, for all but one a life away from the seclusion of the royal household seemed like an unobtainable dream.

The six daughters of George III were raised to be young ladies and each in her time was one of the most eligible women in the world. Tutored in the arts of royal womanhood, they were trained from infancy in the skills vial to a regal wife but as the king’s illness ravaged him, husbands and opportunities slipped away.

Yet even in isolation, the lives of the princesses were filled with incident. From secret romances to dashing equerries, rumours of pregnancy, clandestine marriage and even a run-in with Napoleon, each princess was the leading lady in her own story, whether tragic or inspirational. In The Royal Nunnery: Daughters of George III, take a wander through the hallways of the royal palaces, where the king’s endless ravings echo deep into the night and his daughters strive to be recognised not just as princesses, but as women too.

Happy Birthday, Queen Charlotte!

On this day in 1744, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was born. She is better known as Queen Charlotte, the devoted wife to George III and one of the leading characters in my book, Life in the Georgian Court. You can order the book at the links below, and scroll down to find all of my posts on this remarkable lady.

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I hope you will enjoy this digest of posts here on the Guide regarding Charlotte and her illustrious family.

By Thomas Lawrence, 1790

Queen Charlotte's diamonds: A romantic tale of George's wedding gift to his bride.
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz by Laura Purcell - The early life of the young princess.
The Portrait of Queen Charlotte - When Thomas Lawrence painted the queen in a poignant pose, she was not happy with the result.
Queen Charlotte's Notebook - The stunning stationery of the queen!
The Death of Queen Charlotte

The Children of Charlotte and George
The Long Life of Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh
The Frail Life of Princess Louisa of Great Britain
A Regal Disagreement: Charlotte, Princess Royal
"Tell Charles I die blessing him": Princess Amelia of the United Kingdom

A whole host of tales of George IV...

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

Pen and Sword
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An Announcement: Kings of 18th Century Great Britain

I'm so excited to announce my next book, Kings of 18th Century Great Britain, which has been commissioned by Pen and Sword, my wonderful publisher.

For over a century of tumult, upheaval and scandal, Great Britain was a Georgian land. From the day the German speaking George I stepped off the boat from Hanover to the night George IV, bloated and diseased, breathed his last at Windsor, the four kings presided over a changing nation.  Their reigns were marked by drama and romance, war and crisis. Within these pages monarchs lead their troops into battle, America tears free of British rule and a beloved king finds himself confined to a straitjacket.

Kings of 18th Century Great Britain offers a fresh perspective on the lives of the four Georges and the personal events that shaped their characters and reigns. From love affairs to family feuds, political wrangling and beyond, it is a chance to peer behind the pomp and follow these iconic figures from cradle to grave. As these four very different lives will go to show, being a king isn’t always grand parties and jaw-dropping jewels and sometimes, following in a father’s footsteps can be the hardest job around.

Take a step back in time and meet the wives, mistresses, friends and foes of the these remarkable kings who shaped the nation and find out what really went on behind closed palace doors. Whether dodging assassins, marrying for money, digging up their ancestors or sparking domestic disputes that echoed down through generations, the Georgian kings of Great Britain were never short on drama.

Kings of 18th Century Great Britain: Coming in 2017

A Queen Charlotte Digest

On this day in 1744, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was born. As Queen Charlotte she was a devoted wife to George III and one of my favourite Georgian characters. 

I hope you will enjoy this digest of posts here on the Guide regarding Charlotte and her illustrious family.

By Thomas Lawrence, 1790

Queen Charlotte's diamonds: A romantic tale of George's wedding gift to his bride.
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz by Laura Purcell - The early life of the young princess.
The Portrait of Queen Charlotte - When Thomas Lawrence painted the queen in a poignant pose, she was not happy with the result.
Queen Charlotte's Notebook - The stunning stationery of the queen!
The Death of Queen Charlotte

The Children of Charlotte and George
The Long Life of Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh
The Frail Life of Princess Louisa of Great Britain
A Regal Disagreement: Charlotte, Princess Royal
"Tell Charles I die blessing him": Princess Amelia of the United Kingdom

A whole host of tales of George IV...

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

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A Salon Guest: The Illness of George III

It is an honour to welcome Laura Purcell to the salon today. Laura, author of the marvellous Queen of Bedlam, is here to share the tale of George III's battle against mental illness.

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Tales of mental illness, ranging from the clinically depressed to the criminally insane, have always held a morbid fascination. But it is only relatively recently that sufferers have been viewed with pity and medical understanding. By the time of George III’s first bout of “madness” in 1788, treatments had progressed from the barbaric medieval practices of beating the patient and trepanning a hole in their skull. However, the “cures” remained horrific enough, as the King was about to find out.

 One early preconception of the insane was that they were beasts, insensitive to temperature. This give way to the theory that chilly conditions cleared the head. In consequence, patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals such as Bedlam were hosed down with cold water and left to sleep in rooms with unglazed windows. Indeed, the air of winter was deemed so improving that the hospital didn’t bother to give patients medicine in the cold season. Fortunately for George, he was not subject to Bedlam’s keepers. However, his rooms were kept cold where possible and he was encouraged to take cool baths. When his symptoms became too extreme to conceal in December 1788, the royal family moved George from Windsor to Kew. This was mainly a bid for privacy, but there may have been another motive: Kew was a summer palace. It had no carpets or insulation for the winter months, and many courtiers testified it was like an ice house. 

 Once the patient was in suitably cool surroundings, doctors would try to get the madness out of them. Although they would no longer try to beat insanity out, they did their best to extract it from every orifice. George received medicines designed to cause vomiting and diarrhoea. The doctors began with rhubarb pills, moving onto musk, senna and tartar emetics. The herbs borage and hellebore were also popular “purges and vomits” of the period, believed to “purge the veins of melancholy”. I expect it only made the patient more miserable. If that was the case, physicians would move onto the blood. Leeches were applied to George’s forehead to suck out ill humours, and he was also subjected to the more traditional bleeding with a torquinet.

Another fluid thought to carry away madness was pus. In order to produce the substance, doctors needed blisters. These could be formed in several ways. Firstly, there were irritants applied directly onto the patient’s skin. George had hot vinegar rubbed on his feet and his head was shaved to receive a liberal coating of mustard powder. As for his legs, they received the treatment of “cupping”. As the name suggests, this practice used small cups, which were heated and “exhausted” of air over a lamp before application. As the air cooled, the resulting vacuum would produce blisters to be drained. Particularly harsh doctors might also cut the skin before cupping it, to draw the maximum amount of blood and pus. 

 Of course doctors did try to put something into patients, as well as removing substances. Quinine and opium were popular choices, although the later would have added to the sufferer’s confusion. The Architect of the new Bedlam hospital, Hooke, thought Indian Hemp (marijuana) would be beneficial to inmates, “This powder being chewed and swallowed…doth, in a short time, quite take away the memory and understanding…When he awakes he finds himself mightily refreshed.” Since the records of Bedlam show patients were also continually supplied with beer, it’s just as well Hooke’s idea never came to fruition. Diet itself was given some consideration, especially in less serious “nervous” disorders. William Buchan advised that, “Fat meats, and heavy sauces, are hurtful…All weak and warm liquors are hurtful, as tea, coffee, punch…” But the doctors could not blame diet in the case of King George; he was famously abstentious, living on plain food and barley-water.

 If all else failed, the patient would be controlled by fear. Dr Willis, who came from his Lincolnshire asylum to attend George, believed this was instrumental to recovery. He first had the King separated from his family and all looking glasses removed. The keepers were instructed to return George’s blows and abuses, like for like. Willis then became a kind of harsh schoolmaster, punishing George if he refused to eat or became unmanageable. The greatest punishment, it seemed, was confinement. They started off by “sheeting” George; swaddling him tightly like an infant of the period to prevent movement. When it became clear mere linen would not do the trick, they progressed to a “strait waistcoat” made of a resilient striped material called “tick”, which was tied up with tapes much in the manner of a modern straightjacket. Clearly, George remained unruly, for Willis introduced a bulky chair with restraints on the arms and legs. Too heavy to be thrown down, the chair would hold George captive for hours. He resentfully called it his “Coronation Chair”. 

 Having listed all these terrifying treatments, it’s important to remember that the eighteenth century approach to madness could also be quite progressive. In the late 1600s, Bedlam hospital was rebuilt at Moorfield in a new model; one with light rooms, fresh air and exercise yards. Willis himself encouraged outdoor work and exercise at his hospital, giving the patients farms to tend. There were experiments in music therapy, and when George was good he was allowed to sing, read and play cards – all considered wholesome activities in moderation. He was allowed to see his spaniel Flora – perhaps an early form of pet therapy! – and although separation from the family was encouraged, Willis did try to grant George some access by having his younger daughters held up to the window (a singularly frightening experience for the young princesses!).

When George started to convalesce, he was prescribed rejuvenating activities such as sea bathing and mineral water. This must have been a huge relief, after all he had suffered. George doubtless went through a terrible ordeal, but one consolation was that his illness brought the plight of the “mad” into public consciousness. Greater tolerance and sympathy began to emerge, although it would be many years before the mentally ill were treated with what we would consider fitting respect.

About the Author

Laura Purcell is a writer, history fan and guinea pig lover living in Colchester. She is writing a series of novels about the women who loved (and hated!) the Hanoverian monarchs. 

Visit Laura's website, connect with her on Facebook and gad over to say hello on Twitter. Better yet, do treat yourself to her marvellous novel, Queen of Bedlam!

Written content of this post copyright © Laura Purcell, 2015.

You can find out more about George's remarkable reign in Life in the Georgian Court, now available to order worldwide!

Pen and Sword
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Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

A Salon Guest: The King’s Palaces

It is an honour to welcome Laura Purcell to the salon today. Laura, author of the marvellous Queen of Bedlam, is here to share the tale of George III's palaces.

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When we think of the British royal family, Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle immediately spring to mind. But it’s interesting to discover both these iconic residences owe much of their modern prominence to a relatively recent king: George III.

George III came to the throne in 1760, determined to live in a different style from his forebears. He disliked the formal, stately palaces of Kensington and Hampton Court, which he associated with his hated grandfather. While he was happy to perform ceremonial duties in St. James’s Palace, he wanted a peaceful home for his wife and children. To this end he purchased a modest red brick house from the Duke of Buckingham, informing his Prime Minister it was “not meant for a palace, but a retreat”.

Naturally, Buckingham House required some remodelling to become “Queen’s House” – the name it went by during George III’s reign. But rather than vamping it up, George actually had the house toned down. Grand iron screens were replaced by simple railing, while the elaborate formal gardens were simplified.

This was in keeping with George’s modest tastes. His apartments, on the ground floor were sparsely decorated by royal standards, painted green-grey “without the smallest affectation, ostentation or meanness.” The grandest rooms were the King’s great libraries; the two storey octagon library that could only be entered through his bedchamber and the west library, connected directly to the weather-vane so the King could see how his fleet fared at sea.

However, George and his young wife Charlotte were not adverse to a little splendour. The Queen’s rooms, on the next floor, were a show case for her collections of watches and curiosities. Mrs Powys notes the queen had “the most capital pictures, the finest Dresden…besides the gilt plate, innumerable nick-nacks”.It seems that then, as today, decorative touches and fashionable décor were considered part of the women’s realm. We can glimpse red damask walls and marble chimney pieces in paintings of Charlotte with her young children, as well as black and gold “japanned” panels in her breakfast room. Antique roman ceilings and crystal chandeliers blocked out the next storey, which held the nursery and the servants. Rather usefully, the upper storey had “floors so contrived as to prevent all noise” from disturbing the queen.

Although George and Charlotte succeeded in making Queen’s House a family home, where the majority of their children were born, it didn’t fulfill their need to improve and develop. Windsor Castle was another project taken up by the royal couple. Long disused, the castle itself was unfit for habitation, so they bought up two lodges nearby, one of which used to belong to Queen Anne, the other to Charles II’s mistress Nell Gwynn. Vast extensions were made to accommodate George and Charlotte’s swelling family, giving the buildings the look of a barracks. Nonetheless, only the finest decorations were to be found inside; paper hangings, carved gilt frames, curtains of white dimity with cotton fringes, Portland stone staircases and chairs knotted with floss silk.

Once more, Windsor became a focal point of royal life, as it was in the Stuart days. George liked the country life at Windsor, building his own mill and miniature farm. I get the feeling that Charlotte was less keen, staying indoors with a migraine while her husband took the children on long, muddy, “barbaric” walks about the countryside.

Between 1781 and 1804 renovation work took place at the castle. While apartments remained unfinished, courtiers often urged one another to bring warm cloaks for the drafty corridors and thick boots for the gravel of the terrace. Even when building was complete, the rooms remained cold. Charlotte complained of needing to huddle up with her daughters in furs beside the fire. She was not allowed carpets as the King said they harboured dust. I imagine she would have rather stayed in her lodge, but alas it was demolished. Luckily for Charlotte, she was able to buy Frogmore House as her little retreat within the grounds of Windsor, and decorate it more to her own taste.

Charlotte and George’s son, George IV, remodelled Queen’s House into Buckingham Palace and restored Windsor Castle to a state of pure opulence, making them the grand houses we know today. However, amongst these success stories for the family there is one poignant project that was never finished: George III’s “Castellated Palace” at Kew. A gothic wonder of turrets, the Castellated Palace was conceived in one of George’s many bouts of illness. He was to make “Ludlow Castle, improved”, a fortress in stone. But with an eccentric, sick king, an architect with “a certain lack of diligence” and a shortage of workmen, the plan was doomed to failure. Running up bills of £100,000 – over twice its original estimate- the Castellated Palace was finally abandoned when George became incurable in 1810. The shell remained, “an image of distempered reason”, until George IV demolished it in the late 1820s, using the building materials for other projects.

About the Author

Laura Purcell is a writer, history fan and guinea pig lover living in Colchester. She is writing a series of novels about the women who loved (and hated!) the Hanoverian monarchs. 

Visit Laura's website, connect with her on Facebook and gad over to say hello on Twitter. Better yet, do treat yourself to her marvellous novel, Queen of Bedlam!

Written content of this post copyright © Laura Purcell, 2015.

You can find out more about George's remarkable reign in Life in the Georgian Court, now available to order worldwide!

Pen and Sword
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

A Digest of George III

On this day in 1820, George III died. Insane, blind and not even aware that his devoted wife had predeceased him, his death might well be seen as a merciful release.

To read about George's final hours, do click here, and below, you will find links to posts here on the Guide regarding George and his illustrious family.

King George III in Coronation Robes by Allan Ramsay, 1761-1762

George
The king's illness, by Laura Purcell.
The king's palaces, by Laura Purcell.

Charlotte and George
Queen Charlotte's diamonds

Queen Charlotte
The Death of Queen Charlotte
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz by Laura Purcell
The Portrait of Queen Charlotte
Queen Charlotte's Notebook

Children of George III
The Long Life of Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh
The Frail Life of Princess Louisa of Great Britain
A Regal Disagreement: Charlotte, Princess Royal
"Tell Charles I die blessing him": Princess Amelia of the United Kingdom

A whole host of tales of George IV...

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

Pen and Sword
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

The Death of Queen Charlotte

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Sophia Charlotte; Mirow, Holy Roman Empire, 19th May 1744 – Kew, England, 17th November 1818) 

Queen Charlotte by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1789

There is something about Queen Charlotte that I have always found utterly fascinating. My interest in her was sparked years ago by a portrait that I have since featured here at the Guide and it has never abated. She strikes me as a most graceful lady and one who faced the challenges of her marriage with dignity and forbearance. 

Charlotte married George III in 1761 and was a devoted wife to her husband. Throughout the long years of their marriage, with all the well- documented health problems both physical and mental that George suffered, Charlotte remained his loving and most protective companion.

As she entered her seventy fourth year, though, the queen was growing more frail with every passing day. She attempted to continue her duties even as her health worsened but, in spring 1818, was forced to retire from public life with a final appearance at the Mansion House in London.

Hoping to eventually take up residence at Windsor with her husband, the ailing queen entered seclusion at Dutch House (now Kew Palace) where, she hoped, she would be able to regain her strength. However, she was destined never to see her husband again and, as the year wore on, rather than gain in strength she deteriorated swiftly. Hidden away with her children, Charlotte suffered terribly as her legs swelled and joints grew sore and eventually she contracted pneumonia. 

On 17th November 1818 Charlotte settled in a comfortable armchair with her children around her and, with her son, George, holding her hand, the queen passed quietly away. She was buried at Windsor on 2nd December and her husband, suffering from dementia and many other conditions, never learnt of his beloved wife's death.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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Queen Charlotte's Notebook

As a lady who is constantly scribbling down notes about this, that and everything, I am something of a buyer of stationery. I love a nice notebook and for that reason, am somewhat in love with the rather beautiful item that is the subject of my blog today. In fact, I posted a picture of the stationery in question on my Facebook page some time ago and it made quite an impact, so the time seemed right to let Queen Charlotte's notebook take the spotlight, just as her diamonds did recently.

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk

This stunning notebook was made for Queen Charlotte in 1765 and is a rather dazzling concoction of tortoiseshell and gold, with Charlotte's monogram picked out in diamonds. In case the whole thing was a little understated, a similarly dramatic pencil is securely affixed to the book so that Charlotte might never be at a loss when urgent notes were required.

In spite or perhaps even because of its rather elaborate appearance, the pages of this remarkable notebook remain unused. In fact, Queen Charlotte preferred a more spartan book for her writing and it remains in perfect condition, as fresh today as it was at its creation.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

Queen Charlotte's Diamonds

Today is the anniversary of my wedding to my colonial gentleman; it seemed right, then, to post something with a marital flavour and I settled on a rather fetching ring that was given by a King to his bride. I have a soft spot for such things as my own engagement ring met with a terrible fate that almost cost me a finger too, of which more anon.

Now on with the tale, which happily contains no gruesome accidents or jewellery disasters!

On 8th September 1761, George III married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in the Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace. The ceremony was presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Secker and the marriage was a long and eventful one, ended only by Charlotte's death in 1818.

Queen Charlotte's Diamond Keeper Ring
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk

George presented Charlotte with a beautiful diamond ring to be worn alongside her wedding ring and inscribed within the band was Septr 8th 1761. The ring was a personal gift from the king and it was accompanied by bracelets, necklaces and earrings but it is the ring that appears most significant to Charlotte. From the day of her wedding to the day of her death, Charlotte never wore another ring on that finger, holding her wedding jewellery in such regard

Following Queen Charlotte's death, her jewels were divided amongst her daughters and many were sold on. The diamond ring, however, remained in the care of Charlotte, Princess Royal, and was later inherited by Queen Victoria. It remains in the Royal Collection, though I cannot help but wish it had stayed with Queen Charlotte at her death, but perhaps that's the romantic in me coming out.

I am pleased to relate that there was a happy ending to my own sorry story as the stones from my pulverised engagement ring went onto a new life as a beautiful necklace. Indeed, my gentleman was kind enough to present me with a new engagement ring too, which is now sitting happily alongside my wedding band on my happily recovered digit!

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

A Salon Guest... Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

It is an honour to welcome Laura Purcell to the salon today. Laura, author of the marvellous Queen of Bedlam, is here to share the tale of Princess Sophie Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a lady on whom she is well qualified to talk.

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Princess Sophie Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was born 19 May 1744, although with the introduction of the new style calendar in 1752, her birthday changed to 16 May. Her father was Charles Lewis of Mecklenburg Strelitz and her mother Elisabeth Albertina of Saxe-Hildburghhausen. The youngest of six surviving children, Charlotte had four brothers: Adolphus Frederick, Charles, Ernest and George. Of all these, she was to grow particularly close to Charles, corresponding frequently with him until his death in 1816. Charlotte’s only sister, Christiane, was the eldest child and nine years her senior. Poignantly, three baby sisters and a brother had been laid in the grave before Charlotte appeared.

Queen Charlotte by studio of Allan Ramsay, 1762

At the time of Charlotte’s birth, her father Charles Lewis was nephew to the reigning duke and seemed unlikely to succeed to the dukedom. He and his wife lived at Mirow, not in the moated schloss but a small palace nearby. When Frederick the Great of Russia visited, he mistook Charlotte’s home for a parsonage. However, it must be said it was partly Frederick’s fault that the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz did not thrive: his armies were constantly marching through, pillaging.

Since part of the town had been burnt down in 1730, Mirow retained an air of sleepy, decayed grandeur. The castle had a ruined tower serving as a gatehouse, with “an old stocking-knitter disguised as a Grenadier” guarding the drawbridge. Charlotte and her sister were raised much in the manner of English gentlewomen, learning botany, music and needlework. Their religious education was particularly thorough. Both were raised as Lutherans and invested as Canonesses of the Hereford convent in Westphalia.

Charlotte’s father passed away when she was eight years old. His was one of a series of three deaths that left Charlotte’s brother Adolphus to succeed the dukedom in 1752, aged twenty-three. But this was not the only sudden elevation in store for the family. Eight years letter, George III of England began to consider Charlotte as a potential bride.

George’s choices were limited to German, Protestant princesses. Moreover, his mother didn’t want anyone too clever or too beautiful, lest they loosen her hold over her son. Many girls were dismissed over hearsay. Ironically, considering George’s future illness, the Princess of Hesse-Darmstadt was rejected because she was rumoured to be mentally unstable.

However, preliminary visits to Charlotte were favourable. “I think her a young princess endued with such noble qualities of mind, and such a happy disposition as will entirely gain the King’s affections,” scouts wrote. Her youth, they hoped, would make her impressionable and easy to mould to the preferences of George and his mother. Charlotte was no beauty, but they found her “delicate and fine…Her eyes between a pale blue and grey…Hair a pale brown…lips of a fine red…her face rather agreeable than otherwise…the bosom full enough for her age.” She also seemed dignified enough for England’s throne: “throughout her whole person possessed of that inexpressible something that is beyond a set of features…she has not a fine face, but a most agreeable countenance…with an air, notwithstanding her being a little woman, truly majestic.”

Charlotte’s future prospects were both daunting and exciting, but her wedding plans received a sudden check when her mother Elisabeth died on 29 June. The weather was so hot that her body had to be kept under sand. One can only imagine how distraught Charlotte was, especially as her mother’s last words were wishes for her happiness.

Charlotte’s journey to England got off to a rocky start: her ship was caught in a storm. While the gales, squalls, thunder and hale left her ladies out of order, Charlotte tried her best to appear cheerful and continued to play her harpsichord. There was no rest even once she landed on English soil. Hurriedly dressed in English fashions, she was forced to receive deputations at Harwich, Colchester and Witham. 

The air of hurry continued all the way to London. Meeting the Life Guards at Mile End, Charlotte was paraded through the streets to wave at her new subjects. She asked if they might slow the pace so that the people could get a good look at her, but she was told there could be no delay. Her wedding was due to take place at midnight that very evening. Upon hearing this, Charlotte passed out and had to be revived with lavender water. 

Soon after, the carriage arrived at the garden gate of St. James’s Palace. With her lower lip trembling, Charlotte was handed down the steps by George’s brother, the Duke of York. As she descended, the crowds got a good look at her dress: an elegant white and silver “negligee” trimmed with thin gold lace. No sooner did Charlotte see her future husband than she “threw herself at his feet”. The King “raised her up, embraced her and led her through the garden up the steps into the palace”.  

A long and eventful marriage lay before the royal pair, but I’m not going to tell you about it here. If you want to find out more, please read my book! 

Laura Purcell is a writer, history fan and guinea pig lover living in Colchester. She is writing a series of novels about the women who loved (and hated!) the Hanoverian monarchs. 

Visit Laura's website, connect with her on Facebook and gad over to say hello on Twitter. Better yet, do treat yourself to her marvellous novel, Queen of Bedlam!

Written content of this post copyright © Laura Purcell, 2014.

You can find out more about Charlotte's bittersweet life in Life in the Georgian Court, now available to order worldwide!

Pen and Sword
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

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Sir Thomas Lawrence: The Portrait of Queen Charlotte

In the past we have learnt something of the iconic artist, Thomas Lawrence, and the painting of Elizabeth Farren that was so disliked by the lady it depicted. Today we make a return visit to Lawrence's studio to hear the story of another portrait that was disliked by the illustrious lady who sat for it, this time the Queen of England herself.

In 1789 the 20 year old Thomas Lawrence was riding high on a wave of success. He had exhibited at the Royal Academy to acclaim, with an illustrious and wealthy client list. For Queen Charlotte, meanwhile, things were not going quite so happily; with the king seriously ill, Charlotte found herself driven to distraction by worry for her husband as his physicians struggled to come up with a diagnosis, let alone a suitable treatment.

As the king convalesced in the early autumn, Lawrence was summoned to Windsor Castle for his first royal commission, a portrait of Queen Charlotte. The queen was far from enthusiastic about the prospect and when she met the artist, found little in his character to improve her mood. Lawrence rejected the bonnet that she intended to wear for the sitting and found his subject lacking in animation; as a result, he encouraged her to chat as he painted, something that the queen did not enjoy in the slightest. Despite Charlotte's reservations, her household and children warmed to the artist greatly and enjoyed his company at Windsor.

The finished portrait depicts a woman deep in thought and I have always found Charlotte's expression to be most rueful as she sits alone before a view of Eton College. Autumnal trees are visible to the horizon and to me the portrait gives a strong impression of not just a world approaching autumn, but a woman who is likewise growing older.

When Lawrence presented the finished painting to the queen she was far from impressed with the finished result. The royal family declined to buy the work for the asking price of 80 guineas and instead it joined the portrait of Farren on display at the Royal Academy in 1790. The works were highly acclaimed and to this day Lawrence's portrait of Queen Charlotte remains a deservedly famous image, capturing a woman lost in thought at a time of enormous emotional upheaval.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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